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Boron Elgar

On Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:27:33 +0000 (UTC),
(Steve Pope) wrote:

>Boron Elgar > wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:18:04 -0600, Michel Boucher
>
>>>Dave Smith > wrote in news:6EE_q.8982
:
>>>
>>>>> The Inuit. Left the elderly to freeze on ice floes (well, not
>>>>> anymore...soon NO ice floes).
>>>>
>>>> Actually, the story goes that the old wandered off on their own.
>>>
>>>Strictly speaking yes, but they only did it because resources were
>>>sparse and society expected them to do it. Had they refused they
>>>would have been pushed out.
>
>>Still, even in those days 19th century and earlier, senilicide was a
>>rare practice, and generally only occurred during times of famine.
>>Female infanticide may have been more common, though.
>
>It's instinctive for those gravely ill to wander off away from
>other members of their species. This is an adaptation that
>helps prevent their possibly communicable disease condition
>from spreading.
>
>Steve

I would think that assuming a species hangs around together, a group
would avoid or leave behind hose who are wounded or infirm, as they
either hinder or add nothing to food gathering and additionally, are
more likely to attract predators....guarding the young, as broad
exception to this..

It varies so much that it is hard to generalize.

Those Tasmanian Devils don't seem to have avoided communicable
contact.

Boron